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FG probes banks over delay in PHCN workers’ salary

By BusinessNews Staff on December 24, 2013

The Federal Government has ordered immediate investigation into allegations that delays experienced in processing the last set of payments to disengaging power sector workers had been traced to some banking institutions.

According to the government, a payment instruction given on December 10, 2013, to a particular Deposit Money Bank had not been transferred to the account of the Accountant-General of the Federation, 13 days after.

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, who disclosed these in Abuja on Monday, described the situation as “intolerable.”

He said the development was embarrassing the Federal Government. Nebo said a situation where the process of paying monies already released by government was causing frustration among workers was disheartening.

A statement from the Ministry of Power said the minister spoke during a meeting with his colleague from the Ministry of Labour, new owners of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria successor companies and stakeholders in the sector.

According to Nebo, the meeting was called to resolve issues of labour relations between the new owners and the workers, so as to prevent disharmony that could hinder the speedy delivery of power to Nigerians.

He said there was need for the new owners to have a formidable human resource department that would regularly engage labour, rather than discouraging union activities.

The Minister of Labour, Mr. Emeka Wogu, urged the new power investors to comply with the provisions of Nigeria’s labour laws and International Labour Organisation’s 1949 Convention.

He said both laws supported the existence and operation of workers’ unions for organisations with staff strength of over 50.

“This also includes the private sector,” he said.

Wogu explained that non-unionisation was an unfair labour practice, going by these instruments.

He said well practised unionism had the advantage of promoting cordiality and stimulating productivity in the overall interest of the nation.

The labour minister also advised the new company owners not to deviate from the agreement between government and the two recognised labour unions in the power sector on matters of their welfare.

According to the statement, leaders of the electricity workers’ unions were invited to the meeting, but failed to turn up.

Representatives of the new company owners who spoke at the meeting however, said they recognised the need for continuous engagement with the unions in dialogue to ensure a conducive atmosphere in the sector.

[Punch]

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